Five inmates at the Elkhart County Correctional facility have been taken to Elkhart Hospital for evaluation.

At approximately 12:45 p.m. today, inmates at the Elkhart County Correctional Facility alerted staff to a medical problem in one of the minimum security housing units. Officers arrived to find four inmates having seizures. Another inmate began seizing while officers were present. According to Lt. James L. Bradberry, Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, there was an odor of a burnt substance in the housing unit and other inmates in the housing unit reported that the ill inmates had been smoking something.

Medical staff was called to the housing units and assisted staff in caring for the ill inmates. Five inmates were transported to Elkhart Hospital for evaluation.Elkhart City Police assisted by providing security at the hospital for the inmates until our staff arrived.

Identities of the inmates are not being released at this time due to the ongoing criminal investigation and notification of families.